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Man arrested on suspicion of murdering teenager Gaia Pope Man arrested on suspicion of murdering teenager Gaia Pope
(35 minutes later)
Detectives searching for the missing Dorset teenager Gaia Pope have arrested a 49-year-old man on suspicion of murder. Hopes were fading for 19-year-old Gaia Pope after a woman’s clothes were found close to the seaside town where she vanished eight/nine days ago (eight now, nine tomorrow) and a third person was arrested on suspicion of murder.
Police said the arrested man was from Swanage and known to Pope. Detectives had not established who the clothes belonged to but said they were similar to some of those Gaia was wearing when she disappeared from the seaside town of Swanage.
Det Supt Paul Kessler, of Dorset police, said: “We have no reason to believe Gaia has left the Swanage area. I can’t speculate beyond that. Our search is continuing in Swanage and the rural area around it.” The man who has been arrested has been named by his family as 49-year-old Paul Elsey. He is the son of 71-year-old Rosemary Dinch and uncle of Nathan Elsey, 19, who were both arrested on suspicion of murder earlier this week. Both Dinch and Elsey, who are friends of Pope, have been released under investigation.
He refused to be drawn over whether he believed Pope was still alive. “We will continue to search for Gaia. It’s clear that we may be investigating a crime. We won’t stop until we find Gaia.” Police have not named Elsey but his father, Greg, said that his son was being questioned at a police station in Dorset. He said:
Speaking on the seafront at Swanage as a police helicopter hovered overhead, Kessler said a number of vehicles had been seized. Detectives are refusing to say if they believe Gaia is still alive.
Det Supt Paul Kessler, of Dorset police, said: “We have no reason to believe Gaia has left the Swanage area. I can’t speculate beyond that. Our search is continuing in Swanage and the rural area around it.
“We will continue to search for Gaia. It’s clear that we may be investigating a crime. We won’t stop until we find Gaia.”
Speaking on the seafront at Swanage as a police helicopter hovered overhead, Kessler also said a number of vehicles had been seized.
On the two people arrested earlier this week but released under investigation, he said: “That continues along with a number of other avenues of investigation.”On the two people arrested earlier this week but released under investigation, he said: “That continues along with a number of other avenues of investigation.”
Asked about how Pope’s family had received the news about the clothes being found, he said: “Clearly they are deeply concerned.” Asked about how Pope’s family had received the news about the clothes being found, he said: “Clearly they are deeply concerned. My thoughts are with the family who are going through an incredibly distressing time.”
Kessler said search officers, detectives and community police officers were working on the case. He said: “There is every reason for the public to be reassured; if they have any concerns they can contact our local officers who will be very visible as part of this investigation.” The clothes were found at 10.28am on Thursday by a member of the public in an area of open land north of the coastal path. A cordon was in place.
The arrest came after items of women’s clothing were found in a field close to the seaside town where Pope disappeared. Earlier on Thursday Pope’s father, Richard Sutherland, said she could be in hiding and appealed for people to check houses and gardens.
The owner of the clothes has not yet been identified but police involved in the search for the 19-year-old informed her family of the discovery. Speaking on ITV News he said: “I think if everyone can keep an eye out wherever they are – in their own properties, their own gardens, in places she might have hidden herself away in her scared state, that’s what we can ask.”
Dorset police said the clothes were found at 10.28am on Thursday by a member of the public in an area of open land north of the coastal path. A cordon was in place.
The senior investigating officer Neil Devoto, of Dorset police’s major crime investigation team, said: “Following the discovery of these items of clothing, a full and thorough search will now take place in the field and surrounding area.
“We have seized the clothing and investigations will now be carried out to identify who they belong to. We have updated Gaia’s family who continue to be supported by specially trained officers. Our thoughts remain with them at this very difficult time.
“We are doing everything possible to try to locate Gaia. I would like to renew my appeal to anyone who has information about where Gaia is or what has happened to her to please contact Dorset police.
“I am also urging anyone who has seen any suspicious activity in the area of Morrison Road and Priests Way [in Swanage] since Tuesday 7 November to please contact us.”
The development came as Pope’s father said she could be in hiding and appealed for people to check houses and gardens. Detectives fear she may have come to harm and arrested two people on suspicion of her murder earlier this week.
But her father, Richard Sutherland, said on Thursday she might be hiding out somewhere: “I think if everyone can keep an eye out wherever they are – in their own properties, their own gardens, in places she might have hidden herself away in her scared state, that’s what we can ask.”
Pope has epilepsy and vanished without her medication but was also said to be upset over an unspecified traumatic event.Pope has epilepsy and vanished without her medication but was also said to be upset over an unspecified traumatic event.
Speaking on ITV News, Sutherland added: “She’s vulnerable but she’s also strong. She’s a great girl. She’s got a big spirit.” Sutherland added: “She’s vulnerable but she’s also strong. She’s a great girl. She’s got a big spirit.”
He continued: “We all love her. We want her back. We’ll get her back. We believe we will get her back, so that keeps us going. The help we get from the community, from every single person who’s been involved in this, gives us hope. That gives us strength. I can’t tell you how grateful we are to everybody out there.”He continued: “We all love her. We want her back. We’ll get her back. We believe we will get her back, so that keeps us going. The help we get from the community, from every single person who’s been involved in this, gives us hope. That gives us strength. I can’t tell you how grateful we are to everybody out there.”
In a direct appeal to his daughter, Sutherland said: “Gaia, you know we love you. You know that. I just want that big hug please. I just want a big hug. We’ll get you back and we’ll have that big hug.”In a direct appeal to his daughter, Sutherland said: “Gaia, you know we love you. You know that. I just want that big hug please. I just want a big hug. We’ll get you back and we’ll have that big hug.”
On Wednesday, Pope’s mother, the actor Natasha Pope, suggested that her daughter could be being held against her will.
Pope, from the Dorset village of Langton Matravers, was staying in nearby Swanage when she disappeared on 7 November.Pope, from the Dorset village of Langton Matravers, was staying in nearby Swanage when she disappeared on 7 November.
That afternoon she was driven from Langton Matravers to Swanage by a family member when they stopped off for fuel at St Michael’s Garage on Valley Road in Swanage. At about 2.55pm Pope went inside and bought an ice-cream. Police have released CCTV footage of her in the garage. That afternoon she was driven from Langton Matravers to Swanage by a family member when they stopped off for fuel at St Michael’s Garage on Valley Road in Swanage. At aroundabout 2.55pm Pope went inside and bought an ice-cream. Police have released CCTV footage of her in the garage.
The last confirmed sighting of Pope was on Morrison Road in Swanage. A CCTV camera caught her running along the road at 3.39pm.The last confirmed sighting of Pope was on Morrison Road in Swanage. A CCTV camera caught her running along the road at 3.39pm.
Forensic investigations are continuing at two properties in Manor Gardens just off Morrison Road. Two people known to her – 19-year-old Nathan Elsey, an aspiring actor, and his 71-year-old grandmother Rosemary Dinch – were arrested on suspicion of murder this week but released under investigation. Forensic investigations are continuing at two properties in Manor Gardens just off Morrison Road.
Speaking before her arrest, Dinch described how Pope had banged on her door at around the time the CCTV footage caught the teenager on Morrison Road.Speaking before her arrest, Dinch described how Pope had banged on her door at around the time the CCTV footage caught the teenager on Morrison Road.
Dinch said: “She was very upset. She sort of slid to the floor at one point. She didn’t have a seizure, I’m pretty sure. I gave her a cuddle, and she responded.”Dinch said: “She was very upset. She sort of slid to the floor at one point. She didn’t have a seizure, I’m pretty sure. I gave her a cuddle, and she responded.”
Police divers have been searching streams, ponds and lakes in and around Swanage. Police divers have been searching streams, ponds and lakes in and around Swanage. Volunteer teams have expanded the search to other places Pope liked to visit, including Bournemouth, Poole, Salisbury and Southampton.
Volunteer teams have expanded the search to other places Pope liked to visit, including Bournemouth, Poole, Salisbury and Southampton. The field where the clothes were found is just inland from a beauty spot called Dancing Ledge on the Jurassic Coast. It is south-west of Swanage town centre and around a mile and half due south of Langton Matravers.
On Wednesday her mother, the actor Natasha Pope, suggested that her daughter could be being held against her will. Police cars, a helicopter and drones were spotted at the scene and officers were posted at the cordon.
Dancing Ledge is part of a former quarry that was worked for Purbeck limestone. The water was deep enough for ships to approach the ledge to be loaded with stone. It is now a popular climbing spot.
• Anyone with information is asked to contact Dorset police at www.dorset.police.uk, via email at 101@dorset.pnn.police.uk or by calling 101, quoting incident number 9:179. Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.• Anyone with information is asked to contact Dorset police at www.dorset.police.uk, via email at 101@dorset.pnn.police.uk or by calling 101, quoting incident number 9:179. Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.